SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)

Sustainability and innovation in food security took centre stage in Abu Dhabi as 34 winners were honoured in the fourth cycle of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, with projects ranging from integrated farms and aquaculture systems to organic cultivation and value-added honey production.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the ceremony honoured more than achievements, turning the focus to a new generation of farmers and producers whose ideas are changing the direction of agriculture in the UAE.

Integrated Models Drive Smarter Production

With 476 submissions for the main award and 3,395 entries across accompanying competitions, this year's cycle reflected a growing focus on increased efficiency and more sustainable farming practices.

Abdulrahman Rashid Al Shamsi, who won first place for Best Aquaculture Farm, said that his project was built around an integrated model that combines production, sustainability and education.

"We have created a new agricultural system called Aquaculture. What is unique about the project is that it's sustainable, healthy and commercially viable," he told Aletihad, describing it as a complete farm that includes poultry, fish, vegetables, trees, fodder and dates.

For Al Shamsi, the project is not limited to production alone - it also introduces younger generations to sustainable farming and encourages a broader change in how the sector thinks about growth.

"We are teaching future generations about clean and sustainable agriculture. We want farmers to focus on transitioning to commercial farming instead of simple farming to provide cleaner, healthier and more sustainable food," he said.

Rashid Salim Al Ketbi, first-place winner in the Best Open-Field Farm category, spoke of farming as a direct relationship with the land, but one now supported by more advanced methods.

"Farming is natural, there is more diversity... the farmer has direct contact with the produce," he told Aletihad.

That closeness, however, does not rule out technical progress. Al Ketbi pointed to techniques such as automated irrigation, the use of beneficial insects and a system that takes water from the air and uses it to irrigate crops, all contributing to a sustainable organic model built around lower waste and better use of resources.

Dr Ameena Al Tenaiji, who took third place in the Best Aquaculture Farm category, presented another model centred on efficiency and environmental performance. The strength of her integrated system - which links fish farming with agriculture - lies in how it makes better use of resources.

"You reduce water consumption and utilise waste in a closed loop," she told Aletihad, explaining that the model cuts water usage and makes use of waste rather than discarding it.

She added that the model was designed to be practical and capable of wider use, while also offering clear environmental value.

Recognition at a prestigious event like the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, Al Tenaiji believes, plays an important role in encouraging people to keep developing new ideas.

"Recognition is valuable," she said, stressing the importance of encouragement in driving innovation. "It gave me a boost of enthusiasm."

Local Goods Gain Value Beyond Farms
Dr Ahmed Al Wahshi, who placed second in the Small Producers category, explained that productivity remains central to his work in sheep farming, but not at the expense of quality.

"Sheep farming contributes to increased production, which supports food security," he told Aletihad, stressing that quality matters as much as quantity.

Al Wahshi pointed out that modern tools have made a clear difference, reducing reliance on manual labour, saving time and cutting losses while helping raise output. He believes that, despite the challenges that come with farming, the sector still offers room for new ideas. "If there's a goal, there will be creativity, innovation and motivation."

In the beekeeping category, first-place winner Fadel Nasser Al Saadi showed how local agricultural production can move beyond raw output into higher-value industries. He told Aletihad that his project incorporates Emirati honey into processing industries, producing a wider range of goods, including pollen, royal jelly and propolis.

With the local market increasingly linking agricultural output with a wider commercial and wellness-based needs - such as the use of hive air in health applications - Al Saadi explained that Emirati honey has also gained recognition in international markets.
"Our country's product is number one," he said.

In the dairy sector, Yasser Al Shehhi, who won second place in the Productive Farms category, focused on strengthening local production while keeping quality and careful production at the centre of the work.

He told Aletihad that his project offers a variety of natural, preservative-free dairy products, adding that limited local availability in the market increases their value.

Reflecting on the award's impact, he said that it not only helps strengthen food security in the country, but also "creates competition among farmers", which in turn supports higher output and better quality.